Good Morning, my dears! Welcome back to Lockdown!

Thank you to Fran S. Sunflower & DaniDarlingxx.

Day 8: March 20, 2020

Rose

10:43 PDT

Los Angeles, California

"Baby, I can sleep on the sofa."

Emmett has said this no less than four times this hour alone. It's starting to make me feel like shit. I glare at him as I dump a box of his still unpacked crap into my room.

"Stop," I snap at him. I'm being unreasonable, I know this, but I can't help it. I'm tense at the thought of Emmett being in my space and the pace of our relationship. Now, on top of that, I'm worried about bringing an unknown person into the house after they've been traveling internationally—even if it's Alice's brother. I don't know him, and Alice's vouching for him only goes so far. People have to earn my trust. That's all there is to it.

I look up to see Emmett hunched over a box, his back to me. I can't see his face, but I get the sense I've hurt him in some way. I stop what I'm doing and move behind him, wrapping my arms around him. He stiffens in my embrace, and I kiss the middle of his back. "It scares me to move this fast," I whisper. It's easier to talk to him when he's not looking at me.

His hands come up to tangle in mine around his stomach. "I know, Baby," he whispers. I press my cheek to his back and sigh.

"I am glad you're here," I let myself admit. His fingers squeeze mine, and I kiss him once more before untangling my fingers from his and stepping away. He turns to me, and his face is bright with his joy, even though his smile is small, almost shy. I lean up to kiss him, comforted by his steady presence. My parents have been married almost thirty years, but never once have I seen them happy together. They barely tolerate each other, and for the longest time, I couldn't allow myself to believe that love… real, unconditional love, could exist. I'm still skeptical, but Emmett has come a long way in proving me wrong.

I want to believe it's possible to love someone unconditionally, that it's okay to trust people with your heart. I want to believe Emmett will be there for me through anything. On some level, I know he will be. He's loyal, and it's a trait I adore in him. I'm just still trying to convince my heart of it.

I pull back from Emmett and smile softly at him. "Be patient with me?" I request. He smiles, his hands cupping my face like I'm precious to him. It makes me want to cry.

"Always."

I'm very interested to know where you stand on Rose. Has your view on her changed? Stayed the same? Let me have it, the good, the bad, and the skeptical! lol.

I'll see you loves tomorrow!